BOOKING INFORMATION

YOUR MOBILITY & TOUR SUITABILITY

Due to the nature of our holidays, it is important that you have a reasonable level of fitness; some walking is involved.

If you are infirm or disabled in any way it is essential that you contact us before booking to enable us to advise suitability of your chosen tour. This request is made in good faith and your own interest, as we would not wish you to book on a tour where limited mobility would affect your enjoyment of the holiday.

BROCHURES

We produce a number of different brochures and the latest version of each can be viewed on our website in the e-brochure section located on the top menu bar of our Home Page. The most recent brochure is always at the top of the list. If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact us. The Railtrail team will be pleased to help you in any way we can.

Telephone: 01538 382323

E-mail: enquiry@railtrail.co.uk

HOW TO BOOK - ONLINE OR BY PHONE

You may book online at www.railtrail.co.uk over the telephone during office hours, or by sending us a Railtrail Tours booking form along with your deposit. (A booking form is included in this brochure, may be downloaded from our website, or call 01538 382323 to request one by post.) Your Travel Agent may also submit your booking to us.

Visit www.railtrail.co.uk to check availability and book on-line any time of the day or night.

If you have a query request a ‘Call Back’ via the website - when you have found a departure date that you are interested in, simply submit your contact details and we will telephone you back during office hours to talk through the tour and help you make your holiday booking. For bookings made online or over the telephone, a Passenger Information form including a Mobility Declaration will be sent to you to complete, sign and return.

DEPOSIT & PAYMENTS

A deposit is required at the time of booking of £75 PER PERSON for UK tours, £150 PER PERSON for Grand Tours by Rail and European tours and £400 for Worldwide (Ground Only Tours) £450 for Worldwide (Flight Inclusive Tours). Remember – deposits are NON- REFUNDABLE; therefore it is important that you consider travel insurance arrangements. Our preferred means of payment is cheque, debit card or direct bank transfer (BACS).

For payment by BACS please transfer the amount to the following account, quoting your 5-digit Booking Reference number:

          Account Name: Trustee of Clients, Railtrail Tours Ltd

          Sort Code: 30-93-83

          Account Number: 00839674

          BIC: LOYDGB21080

          IBAN: GB35 LOYD 3083 8300 8396 74

HOLIDAY TRAVEL INSURANCE

For European and Worldwide tours it is a condition of booking that you are adequately insured and it is a condition of travel that before departure you provide to us details of your insurance arrangements (insurers name, your policy number and the emergency contact number stated on your policy) and also ‘next of kin’ / In Case of Emergency contact information. For UK holidays this requirement is not mandatory for UK nationals but we do recommend that you are similarly insured and request that you do provide us with ‘next of kin’ / In Case of Emergency contact information; insurance is mandatory for NON-UK nationals and it is a condition that you provide details to us as above.

WHEN WILL I HAVE TO PAY THE BALANCE?

The balance of fare is due for payment 9 weeks before departure date for UK Tours and 13 weeks before departure date for Grand Tours by Rail and European tours. For bookings made less than 9 weeks before departure date (13 weeks for Grand Tours by Rail and European tours) the full amount is due at time of booking. Your Booking Confirmation & Invoice includes the date when your balance of fare is due by. You are liable for the full balance at this date.

THE TOUR FARE

What is included in the Tour Fare?

All rail travel throughout the holiday as described (unless booking at the Tour Base fare). Air travel if applicable. Connecting road travel from station to hotel (where necessary).

Accommodation and meals as detailed in the tour itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Light Lunch, LR= Light Refreshments, D=Evening meal, E=Eurostar light meal) All excursions and admissions to attractions, unless otherwise stated as optional in the tour itinerary. Services of an experienced Tour Manager. VAT and local taxes where applicable.

For clients wishing to travel independently to and from the tour base for UK tours we offer a Tour Base fare as shown in the tour Fares Table.

If wishing to travel independently to a European tour base, please contact us for a tour fare quote.

PASSPORTS & VISAS

British Citizens: For European and Worldwide tours a full ten-year passport is required, and many countries stipulate

that it is valid for at least 6 months beyond your return date. It is your responsibility to have a valid passport. Please allow at least one month and preferably three months for issue or renewal. We will advise you at the time of booking of any visa requirements.

If you are not a British Citizen you must also check immigration requirements with the appropriate embassy or consulate of the country/countries that you plan to visit or travel through.

OVERSEAS HEALTHCARE INFORMATION

For European tours a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) gives you the right as an EU citizen access to state-provided healthcare at a reduced cost, or sometimes for free, for any medical treatment that may become necessary during your holiday within the EU and Switzerland. (Excludes the Channel Islands including Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, Isle of Man and Monaco). All UK residents should have one and carry it with them when travelling abroad. To apply go to: www.ehic.org.uk directly or visit www.nhs.uk and search ‘Healthcare Abroad’, or alternatively telephone 0300 330 1350.

For Worldwide tours: We will advise you at the time of booking of any health precautions and immunisations

recommended that we are aware of at the time of going to press with our tour information, but you should also seek advice from a qualified medical practitioner.

TOUR JOINING, TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS & ITINERARIES

In the case of UK tour and journeys linking your home station to the tour base, tour itineraries are individually tailored to leisure travel fares and any applicable route restrictions. Reserved seats are included where the facility is provided. Detailed travel timings are shown in your Joining Arrangements and Tour Itinerary. This is sent to you with your travel tickets approximately 7-10 days before your tour departure date.

European tour itineraries include details of the Railtrail Tours meeting point at London St. Pancras International.

RAILTRAIL REWARDS LOYALTY

Once you have travelled with Railtrail, we reward your loyalty via our ‘Railtrail Rewards Loyalty’ points scheme. For every pound spent you will receive Loyalty Rewards Points on return from your holiday, which can then be used as a discount on future bookings. Loyalty Points remain valid for 3 years after your return from your holiday. The more loyalty points you earn, the greater the discount you will receive on your next tour. No other escorted rail holiday company offers such a scheme.

The vast majority of our customers are either repeat bookings or recommendations and, should you recommend Railtrail to someone not already on our system, YOUR Railtrail Rewards Loyalty account will be credited with points when they travel on their first tour. Points will be credited to the value of £25 per person booked if it was a UK tour, £50 per person booked if it was a European / Grand Tour, or £100 per person booked if they travelled on a Worldwide Tour.

Railtrail Tours Ltd

21 The Smithfield Centre, Leek

Staffordshire Moorlands

ST13 5JW

TEL: 01538 382323